This post really resonates with me. I publish the "Translator Power" blog which targets freelance translator/interpreters, famous for their reluctance to market themselves - and I precisely advise them on how to market their services. They are such a lethargic lot that it's practically impossible to get them to contribute to the blog content, even though they seem to enjoy it! I hardly ever get a timid one or 2 word comment. This has been going on for almost 18 months but I don't despair. I NEVER despair, you never know what might happen... later :-)

Pete, I agree that it should come as no surprise that fewer people are posting content than those that are actually viewing it. What is important to note though is that blogs and forums like AlwaysOn are allowing ordinary "editors" to contribute content where before there was no real stage for them. The fact that anyone comments on the posts is the icing on top.

In fact, the math is probably not too dissimilar from the response rate to everyday articles posted in newspapers and magazines. And, the more controversial the article, the more responses you'll garner. Or, in the case of several celebrity posts, the more famous you are, the more responses you'll receive as individuals hope to become your "friend".

So, I guess the moral of the story is to become famous or shake it up with a juicy story, and you'll spark more reaction from your readers.

In conclusion and in accord with your thoughts, I think the key is for blog communities to provide multiple collaboration vehicles to permit greater interaction between the readers and the writer, as well as between the readers themselves. This is what has happened on more traditional social networks like Myspace and Facebook. Thus, tools that get the audience engaged will capture more involvement overall.

It's no surprise that the vast unwashed masses don't throw in their two cents. As a long-time newspaper editor, I can tell you the silence from readers has always been profound.

What's different and astonishingly valuable is that so many worthwhile voices *do* join in.

When was the last time that 68,000 people collaborated together on the creation of an encyclopedia, OH MY GOD!

I agree with your other commenters. The numbers should not really be a surprise. Folks who are even aware of the Internet's true power are relatively few and recent. Most of us are just starting to get our feet wet. We have been trained for generations to "watch" TV, not talk or write back to it.
I do like your idea to create "a template that is easy to edit which might encourage participation." Do you think Seesmic will eventually help with that?